EBOLA PARANOIA

Panic about Ebola virus has been gripping America. Among the many incidents cited: a teacher in Maine was put on leave becouse she went to Dallas for a conference and stayed in a hotel exatly 15 km away from the hospital where a patient died of disease; and in Mississippi, parents took their kids out school after learning thet the principal had visited Zambia, a country more than 3000km away from the Ebola epidemic in West Africa...

MIND YOUR TABLET

The number of mobile phone thefts on London's rail network and Underground has fallen by more than 80 per cent in the past five years, new figures show. That's the good news. The bad news is that the number of Kindles and tablet computers stolen from passengers has risen. Some 140 Kindles were stolen in 2013-2014 compared with three in 2009-2010. The number of tables stolen rose from 13 to 637 last year.

WILD

A young American sets off into nature on a journey of self-discovey. It is much more difficult than she realised - walking for hundreds of miles, camping alone night after night in a wilderness where, if there is a problem, there is no one to save you...

It sounds like the plot of the brilliant 2007 movie, Into the Wild, but it's not. This film is about a woman, played by Reese Witherspoon, walking the 1600km from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Coast Trail. It clearly wants to recapture the poetry of its similarly-titled predecessor, but only suffers by comparsion. It's not a bad film, but if you want to watch a film on this subject, this is not the one to see.

Ed SHEERAN

A few years ago, Ed Sheeran was busking for money. Today the redhead with the caroonisht tattoos has sold millions of records, conquered America, and written for some of the biggest names in pop - Taylor Swift and One Direction included. And the extraordinary thing is that when he plays in fornt of thousands, it is just him, his guitar and a loop pedal. No backing singers. No band. No dancers... And his fans (mainly teenage girls) love it. The guy is a born entertainer.

WRITING: Last holidays (COMPETÈNCIA LINGÜÍSTICA CURS 2011 - 2012)

Last year, my friend Sam...

He went on holiday to an exotic places: Africa, China and Sud America.

In Africa he went to saw the animals, the people of there is very sociable, generaous and interesant. When Sam there, also he went to the desert and saw the camels, he went to China and then, he went to the beach because he had very hot!

This is him holidays. And your holidays are great?

WRITING: Last night (COMPETÈNCIA LINGÜÍSTICA 2013 - 2014)

Last night I went with my friends it a large empty house. This house is abandoned. It was in a town, Banyoles. When we were stayed in the house, one firend listen a one thing. He said: "It's a ghost! I saw!". The other people scared. I think that strange, and I was scared. Well, we were scared.

I decided to phone the police. The police arrivated few minuts then. They inspectioned the house and saw one thing... One person killed. It was terrible! Then, we returend in to a town and we were going to the bed. Then a few years, when I think, I for scared!

WRITING: A short story 'The Surprise'

Write one text (80-95 words) or each of the following tasks:

Your teacher has asked you to write a short story with the title “The Surprise”.

Think about:

The beginning: who are the characters? What situations are there in?

The middle: what problem or difficulty do you have?

The ending: how is the problem or difficulty resolved?

Writing:

Last weekend it was Anna's 16th birthday and we made a "Dinner Surprise". Leo, Paul, Sara and I, we met at König, her favorite restaurant. Anna's was excited and she went to the restaurant at nine o'clock, the time they had arranged to meet.

When were having dinner all and we were it great. I remembered we had a problem... I saw realised that brought I hadn't the gift had bought!

Then, I said the situation in Leo. And he decided: went to go the house, take the gift and come back.

WRITING: Last weekend

Last weekend…

I got up at ten o’clock. Then I had breakfast and had a shower. When finished, in the morning I studied and I did my homework. Then, I had lunch and I went to a basketball match with Laia. In the night, I had soup and fish, then, one apple. I went to the bed at twelve o’clock, because whe I finished, I had more homework and more to study.

WRITING: Letter to your English auntie about your new friend

Hi auntie,

How are you? I hope you’re well. I’m writing to tell you about my new friend.

My new friend is Pol he is 17 years old. He lives in Porqueres. He is very nice and a generous person. He likes playing basketball and listening to music, but he doesn’t like playing football. He hasn’t got any pets.

Lots of love,

Carlota

WRITING: European project: Letter to a new friend

Hi Peter,

My name is Carlota and I am fifteen years old. I live in the street Camí dels Prats, Banyoles, with my parents and my sister. I like dancing and meeting my friends, but I don’t like studying and playing football.

I’m going to Casa Nostra School, which is in Porqueres, next to Banyoles. My favorite subject is Catalan.

My best friends are Irina and Aniol and we’re in the different classes. My teacher Anna Vilà is responsible, but sometimes she gives us lots of homework. After school I’m going to other lessons and then usually we go home to do my homework.

At the weekend I sometimes meet friends and I often see basketball matches.

Write soon and tell me all about yourself, your friends and your family.

See you soon. Love

Carlota.

WRITING: A postcard

Hi Clàudia!

We’re having a great holiday in Palamós.

We’re staying in my apartment in the center of the city. It’s got a swimming pool but there are many people there! There are lots of things to do. The people are the same every year, but they are very friendly.

Two weeks ago we went to the beach. Palamós is a very big, beautiful and calm place.These it’s very hot every day! And some days it's windy!

Are you having good holidays in Platja d’Aro?

See you soon

Carlota

WRITING: An invitation to a party

Hi Andrea,

I’m having a birthday party next Monday at my grandparents’ house. Would you like to come? It’ll be fun! Lots of people from my school and my group of dance are coming. You know some of them – Laia, Alba, Albert, Carla and Martina. Can you bring cocacola and chips?

My grandparents’ house is next to the hospital, “7 Carrer Major”. It’s right next to the park and it’s got a white front door.

Hope you can home and see you soon.

Carlota.

WRITING UNIT 4

Write about plans for a visit:

Hi, Clàudia

I’m just writing to check that everything’s OK for your visit.

I think you’ll like Barcelona. On Saturday morning, we’re going to Barcelona and then we're doing a bus tour with my parents because they really want to show you the city. Then, you and me go to one very famous restaurant in the city, when we finish we're meet again with my parents and we could either walk around the town or go to a museum. It's up to you. But I expect we'll end up in the shopping center. In the night, we return to my house in Banyoles.

On Sunday, we can go by motorcycle and I want to show you some pretty nice places of Banyoles, for example, “The Park of the Draga” or “The lake of Banyoles”. Also, we could go outside because there are some typical Catalan villages around here. I'll get some photos and you can have a look.

We're going to meet you in the station tomorrow, so can you remind me what time your trains gets in?

Look the photo.

Carlota

WRITING UNIT 3

Write a discussion eassy:

Are you for or against using animals for medical research?

At the moment, it is legal in some countries to research with animals, although there are arguments both for and against this practice.

One of the arguments for using experiments with animals is this: give us more information, procedures... which are useful. In addition, experiments that we can’t check with humans we can check with animals.

On the other hand, there is a moral problem with the life of the animals. Because scientists destroy almost all animals after being experienced. For this reason, one law of the European Union protects all animals vertebrates, for example: the Simis. 

All in all, I am not in favour of using animals for medical research. I believe that if it continues, we should have stricter controls on research and experiments.